Lufkin and Nacogdoches set to face familiar foes in new district realignments

2016-02-02T01:52:52Z2016-02-02T02:05:55Z

EAST TEXAS (KTRE) -

Several East Texas high school football coaches gathered in Kilgore Monday morning to learn the fate of their new districts with UIL realignments.

It's the one day a year the UIL will throw a curve ball or two and keep coaches on their toes.

“Everyone has all these plans about what the UIL is going to do. They never do it,” said Nacogdoches head coach Bobby Reyes. “How they keep it secret, the government needs to talk to the UIL because nothing gets out in the UIL.”

Lufkin saw a much different district than what they've been use to the past two years as they’re now in the 6A classification.

In district 12-6A, the Panthers will be in a seven- team district that includes Beaumont West Brook (6-5), Conroe (4-6), Conroe Oak Ridge (4-6), The Woodlands (10-2), College Park (2-8) and Montgomery (5-5).

Head coach Todd Quick expects The Woodlands to be their biggest challenge next season, but each school will bring a different obstacle.

“There are no easy ones in that district but they also have to come here. The competition is pretty balanced but the numbers are not really balanced,” said Quick.

Lufkin will be the odd man out being the only East Texas team and the smallest school.

Even though the past two years has been an all East Texas tangle in district, the kids spent eight years prior playing these familiar schools that are now in their district again.

“When you go down there they live a little different life style. The kids still work hard and they're still good kids that get after it, but it's a little different there than what we're use to here,” said Quick. “But when it all boils down it's about blocking and tackles. It doesn't matter if you're from East Texas or Houston, you still got to block and tackle people.”

Nacogdoches won't be seeing anything new in district 17-5A. The Dragons are paired in a six-team district with Corsicana (6-4), Ennis (6-5), Jacksonville (2-8), Lindale (5-6) and Whitehouse (2-8).

“I was shocked that they put Ennis and Corsicana back in the district with us,” said Reyes. “I'd rather be in a little bit bigger district because finding non-district games in East Texas where we are is not really the easiest thing to do.”

Last year Nacogdoches lost to Corsicana and Ennis, missing the playoffs with a 3-4 record. However, it will soon be a new year where each team in their new respective districts will have a chance to do something great.